It’s not every day that you see a building façade that showcases terra cotta formed into precast concrete.
But the University of Illinois-Chicago’s Computer, Design Research, and Learning Center (CDRLC) does just that. On a campus known for its Brutalist architecture, much of it shaped by architect Walter Netsch, the new center pays homage to his late modern style while introducing a more human-scaled, material-rich façade that adds warmth, light, and vitality.
The CDRLC opened last year for UIC students studying computer science, data science, and engineering. The 135,000-square-foot, LEED Gold-certified building boasts 16,000 square feet of classroom space, according to the university.
The project, built by BAC ADC 1 of Illinois members, won Best Precast Project in the BAC 2025 Craft Awards.
The 5-story building’s precast concrete panels, installed by Creative Erectors, LLC, have 4 different finishes: acid-etched, terra cotta inlay, polished, and smooth – along with 8,800 square feet of inset terra cotta panels.
“One of the big things that we wanted in the building was higher-end finishes, higher-end user experiences, and a big atrium,” said Eric Luchetta-Stendel, project manager for UIC. He noted the consistent material feel from outside to inside, with terrazzo floors and atrium columns echoing the polished, exposed-aggregate finish of the precast façade and continuing into the refined washroom tile and finishes. “The building is a really nice feature for the university,” he said.
Scott Conwell, Director of Industry Development and Technical Services at the International Masonry Institute (IMI), said the building’s interior terrazzo columns in the light-filled atrium are among its defining features.
“It’s rare that we see terrazzo go in vertically,” he said. “There’s really fine workmanship required to do that because these are all ground and polished by hand. Having a consistent polish on circular columns with hand grinders is notable.”
“It’s not easy to install, but our contractors can do anything,” he added. “And UIC now has this amazing atrium space with terrazzo floors and terrazzo columns that go along with it.”
Conwell provided advice and technical support for the project’s interior finishes, from terrazzo to tile.
The tile treatment in the bathrooms is another distinctive feature, with alternating colors in the stalls. “To see all that color in a university, it’s a good thing to build up people’s morale,” said Sandy Andrews, president of Q.C. Enterprises, which installed the tile.
IMI advised terrazzo contractor John Caretti and Co. and architect of record Booth Hansen, a partnership that prompted the Booth Hansen team to ask Conwell to host several seminars for architects on both tile and terrazzo over the last few months.
“It’s not my first time working with terrazzo, but it was my first time working on it in this scale without it being more of a renovation project where we’re trying to match an existing product,” said Jon McNeely, Principal and Technical Director at Booth Hansen.
The Booth Hansen team worked with Caretti & Company, the terrazzo contractor, when changing the color of the vertical terrazzo columns from a yellowish shade to white.
“I think the best part of our relationship was the ability to get quick and timely samples so that we could make that change,” McNeely said. “There’s some speckle and variation to it, but it’s as white as we can make it without worrying about the warranty or it yellowing over time.”
Luchetta-Stendel said the university succeeded in refreshing the 1960s-era style of buildings on its east campus.
“We wanted a showcase building, and we wanted something that brought people in,” he said. “It’s completely unlike any other building on campus. We hit the nail on the head there as far as having something that really stands out.”
